2019 tech events calendar: Everything on deck from Apple, Google, Amazon and more

With CES 2019, the Detroit Auto Show, the Chicago Auto Show and the Sundance Film Festival all in the rearview mirror, this year’s calendar of tech, automotive and cultural events are already well underway. Just like last year (you remember last year, right? The good and the bad), CNET will be covering news and announcements from every major show and event that happens from now until 2020, when it starts all over again with CES 2020.

CanJam: New York 2019, Feb. 16-17

The “premier headphone audio show,” is something for audio junkies to get excited about. There are several shows throughout the year and around the world, but they kick off in New York. Expect to hear about the “latest products and innovations in headphones and personal audio electronics in all price ranges.”

Toy Fair 2019: New York, Feb. 16-19

All the coolest things we saw at Toy Fair 2018

Toys and tech go hand in hand these days and the Toy Fair gives us our first glimpses of how the pairing will take shape in the coming year. Last year it was pooping robot dogs and a party game with its own heart-rate monitor. This year, who knows? But CNET will be there to find out.

CP+ 2019: Yokohama, Feb. 28 to March 3

CP+ is the most important show for camera and photo imaging for consumers and professionals — at least aside from Photokina, which won’t happen again until May 2020. Cameras including Sony’s A7 III, Fujifilm’s X-H1 and Panasonic’s GX9 were all launched around CP+, for example. If you’ve been waiting for a major camera or lens announcement or you simply love photo gear, you’ll want to look for news just before and during this show.

Intl. Home + Housewares Show 2019: Chicago, March 2-5

Chris Monroe/CNET

There was no shortage of smart home news to come out of CES. But if you can’t get enough of the latest in kitchen appliances, cooking gadgets, home design and other accessories, this Chicago show in March is one to watch. CNET will be there to bring you the latest in connected coffee makers and Instant Pot rivals.

Geneva Motor Show, March 5-6

The appearance of the Toyota Gazoo Racing Concept at the 2018 Geneva show got us amped for a production Supra, which appeared at the Detroit Auto Show this year ready to end its two-decade hiatus. Can’t wait to see what comes this year.

You didn’t miss anything: Apple hasn’t made any official announcements for its 2019 events. However, it does typically hold three to four major ones throughout the year with the first falling sometimes — but not always! — in the March-to-April timeframe. Last year’s was all about education and featured the launch of the 2018 9.7-inch iPad. For 2019, Apple may shift to entertainment and announce its long-rumored video streaming service.

Facebook F8 2019: April 30 to May 1

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg at F8 2018.James Martin/CNET

Spring is developer conference season and the social network gets things started. It promises to be filled with “networking opportunities, deep-dive sessions and product demos, all showcasing how technology can enable the best of what people can do together,” wrote Ime Archibong, vice president of product partnerships, in a blog post (full story here). Of course, Facebook still needs to figure out how to deal with the ongoing fake news problem and the heavy-handed tactics that have damaged its reputation in the aftermath of the Cambridge Analytica scandal and the 2016 election. Oh, and there’s the next Oculus VR headset, too.

Google I/O 2019: May 7-9

Google CEO Sundar Pichai at Google I/O 2018.James Martin/CNET

The search giant announced the dates for its 2019 developers conference in a suitably Google way by posting a puzzle for developers on Twitter. To jog your memory, at last year’s conference Google CEO Sundar Pichai unveiled Duplex, its uncanny artificial intelligence for Google Assistant users that could make appointments and reservations using a human voice complete with pauses, umms and ahhs.

If you think Microsoft’s developer conference is all about Windows, you haven’t been paying attention. Much of the 2018’s focus was on Microsoft’s work on artificial intelligence (AI) systems, machine learning, edge-computing tools and the company’s moves to integrate with other platforms including iOS, Android and AmazonAlexa. Dates haven’t been announced, but expect it to be in early May.

Apple WWDC 2019 (expected)

Here are the biggest iOS 12 features Apple announced at WWDC 2018

Like the others, Apple’s Worldwide Developer Conference has a heavy focus on its software and operating systems — MacOS, iOS, WatchOS, tvOS — as well as its HealthKit, ARKit and HomeKit platforms. But sometimes we also see new iPads or Macs at this event. There’s no announced date yet, but WWDC 2018 was June 4-8.

Amazon Prime Day (expected)

You should never pay full price for stormtrooper bookends.Star Wars via Amazon

Amazon hasn’t confirmed that its big summer sale is returning for 2019, but we’d be shocked if it doesn’t. The big mid-July sale typically features eye-popping discounts on the site’s own Fire, Echo and Kindle products in addition to anything and everything Alexa-enabled. Amazon also slashes prices on all kinds of other things for the day (well, technically two days), basically giving you permission to buy things you didn’t know you needed until they were $10 cheaper. It’s like The Purge, but for online shopping.

Samsung Galaxy Note Unpacked event (rumored)

August is a generally a slow month for big tech news with one exception: Samsung’s Galaxy Note announcement. Last year’s Note 9 was a modest update, all things considered, which means the Note 10 could be a complete overhaul. We probably won’t hear any significant rumors about it until we get past the Galaxy S10 announcements, though.

Amazon September event?

Amazon Echo event: Pictures from Seattle

For the past couple of years, Amazon has overhauled its Alexa-powered product line in late September. We saw more than a dozen new and refreshed products in 2018. Will that happen again this year? We’ll just have to wait and see.

Microsoft October Surface event?

The Surface Pro 6 was announced at Microsoft’s 2018 October eventSarah Tew/CNET

This is the one day of the year when Microsoft’s PC hardware takes a backseat to its software. There’s usually a new product announcement or an update to existing hardware in the summer, like 2018’s Surface Go, but Microsoft often uses an October event to highlight more important devices. Will it do so again in 2019? Time will tell.

Google Pixel October event?

Again, this one isn’t guaranteed, but expected: Google’s annual fall hardware event normally drops in between Apple’s two second-half events. Though leaks and rumors tend take the wind out of the announcements, Google always seems to have some surprises when it comes to its Android, Chrome and Google Assistant devices.

PDN Photo Plus Expo: New York, Oct. 24-26

Photo Plus is the largest photography and imaging show in North America with “20,000 professional photographers, photography enthusiasts, videographers, students and educators” in attendance. If you’re into cameras, the accessories for them and how to use them better, put it on your calendar.

Samsung Developers Conference (expected)

Away from the developer conference onslaught in spring, Samsung’s November conference guarantees itself some time in the spotlight for its projects. In 2018, it was our first glimpse of its folding phone, a list of enhancements coming to its Bixby digital assistant and the announcement of One UI, a simplified interface for its mobile devices.

Microsoft Ignite: Orlando, Nov. 4-8

Ignite covers what’s coming next from the software giant for IT professionals and enterprise customers who want to know the “future of cloud, data, business intelligence, teamwork and productivity.” It’s heavy on the workshops and breakout sessions, but quite a bit of news comes out of the conference as well.

Los Angeles Auto Show: Nov. 18-21

Manuel Carrillo III/Roadshow

Although it tends to lack a central focus, LA is one of the most important shows of the year. For example, in 2018, there were several big debuts across categories debuts like the Wrangler-based Jeep Gladiator pickup, the next Kia Soul, Mazda3, Porsche 911 and all-new Hyundai Palisade SUV.